Her patrols east of Suez come at a tense time, with the ongoing row over Iran’s nuclear programme and Western condemnation of the bloody violence in Syria.

The News understands from a source on the ship that she has sailed with extra ammunition stores in case the United Nations decides on a military intervention in the country.

‘We are ready for all of the likely scenarios we may encounter,’ Diamond’s commanding officer, Commander Ian Clarke declared yesterday.

But fears of a repeat of last year’s operations in Libya were not apparent among the dozens of relatives and friends who packed the Round Tower in Old Portsmouth to wave off the ship’s 190 sailors.

Nicky Cromie, 41, of Lee-on-the-Solent, and her three children – five-year-old twins Michael and Harry, and six-year-old Sophie – made their voices heard for Lieutenant Commander John Cromie, 41, the ship’s operations officer.

Nicky said: ‘It’s obviously very sad, especially for the kids, but we’ve got to get on with things and enjoy our time together.

‘We look forward to him coming home already.

‘He doesn’t want to be away from home but equally he’s looking forward professionally to doing a good job.’

Diamond is replacing her sister ship HMS Daring in the Gulf in what is a routine deployment for the navy.

The warship will also conduct anti-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden off Somalia.